'Modi's name in Epstein files’: Congress targets PM, seeks clarification
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday intensified its offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his name allegedly appeared in newly released US investigative records linked to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Terming the matter “truly scandalous”, the opposition party demanded an immediate and personal clarification from the Prime Minister, accusing him of maintaining a conspicuous silence on an issue that, it said, affects India’s national dignity and global standing.
Congress Flags ‘Scandalous’ References to Modi
The controversy erupted after the US Department of Justice released thousands of court and investigative documents—collectively referred to as the Epstein files—under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Among them is an email dated July 9, 2017, allegedly written by Epstein, which makes a direct reference to Prime Minister Modi and his official visit to Israel.
In the email, Epstein is quoted as writing: “The Indian Prime minister modi took advice. and danced and sang in israel for the benefit of the US president… IT WORKED!” (sic).
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the Prime Minister’s continued silence on the issue was “unacceptable”, adding that Modi himself must respond instead of allowing official statements to brush aside the controversy.
Questions Over Israel Visit and US Linkages
The reference in the email appears to coincide with Modi’s Israel visit from July 4–6, 2017—the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The visit took place just weeks after Modi met then US President Donald Trump in Washington during his June 2017 US tour.
Congress leader Pawan Khera argued that the timing and language used in the document raised disturbing questions. “What advice was the Prime Minister taking from Jeffrey Epstein? For whose benefit was the Prime Minister ‘singing and dancing’ in Israel? And what exactly does the phrase ‘IT WORKED!’ mean?” Khera asked in a post on X, calling the issue a matter of “national shame”.
MEA Dismisses Allegations, Congress Unconvinced
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) moved quickly to reject the allegations, issuing a statement that described the references as “trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal” and said they deserved to be dismissed with “utmost contempt”. The MEA stressed that beyond the factual detail of Modi’s official visit to Israel in July 2017, there was no substance to the claims.
However, the Congress rejected the government’s dismissal, insisting that a bureaucratic response could not substitute for a direct explanation from the Prime Minister. Ramesh said the issue involved India’s international reputation and could not be waved away as gossip.
Second Document Mentions Modi After 2019 Election Win
The opposition party further escalated the attack by sharing a second document, purportedly an exchange dated May 24, 2019, between Epstein and former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon. In this message, Epstein allegedly referred to a “really interesting Modi meeting” following the BJP’s sweeping victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The message goes on to mention China as Modi’s “main enemy”, Pakistan as China’s “proxy” in the region, and India’s plans to host the G20 in 2022. Khera questioned why Epstein was discussing India’s Prime Minister, foreign policy priorities, and post-election political standing at such a sensitive moment.
Opposition Demands Accountability, PMO Silent
The Congress raised fresh questions about whether any meeting involving Modi and figures like Bannon took place, and why Epstein appeared to have access to detailed political assessments about the Prime Minister. “This is not idle chatter—it raises serious questions of judgment, transparency, and diplomatic propriety,” Khera said.
As of Saturday evening, there was no response from the Prime Minister’s Office or the Bharatiya Janata Party to the Congress’s demands.
Epstein’s Shadow Over Global Elites
Jeffrey Epstein, a former billionaire financier with deep links to powerful political, business, and cultural figures across the world, was first convicted in 2008 for sex offences involving a minor. He was arrested again in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors and died in custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial.
While governments and influential figures worldwide have sought to distance themselves from Epstein, the Congress has framed Modi’s alleged appearance in the Epstein files as a serious political and moral question—one that, it argues, the Prime Minister must answer himself rather than dismiss through official denials.